Campgrounds near Guntown, Mississippi include several Army Corps of Engineers sites along with state parks that provide camping options within a 30-mile radius. The northeastern Mississippi region features rolling hills with elevations ranging from 300 to 500 feet above sea level, creating scenic shorelines along man-made lakes and waterways. Most campsites in this area are shaded by hardwood forest, providing natural cooling during summer months when temperatures typically reach the high 80s to low 90s.
What to do
Disc golf courses: Tombigbee State Park offers a unique disc golf course that winds through wooded areas. A visitor mentioned, "We hiked all the trails and they were well manicured and followed a frisbee golf course. They have full hookups and back in spots."
Fishing opportunities: Piney Grove Campground provides excellent fishing access with waterfront sites. As one camper noted, "Great camping nice and clean. Next time I'll bring the kayak and do some fishing!"
Historic sites exploration: The area near Whitten Park Campground offers cultural attractions. A visitor shared, "Outside the campground entrance the Underground Railroad Bicycle Trail goes along the road and continues to the lock for walking and peddling."
Water recreation: Bay Springs Lake at Piney Grove offers swimming and boating options. A reviewer explained, "Nice park with a lovely lake beach. The star of the camp is the beautiful lake."
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Tishomingo State Park Campground features newly renovated sites with ample space. As one visitor reported, "The new section - sites 38-62- is amazing! Just perfect. Beautiful large sites with lake views and perfectly paved and landscaped."
Wildlife viewing: The wooded settings provide opportunities to spot local fauna. At Whitten Park, campers enjoy "waterfront sites with adequate forrest canopy that provides shade for most."
Walking trails: Many campgrounds feature interconnected trail systems. One camper at Trace State Park Campground noted, "Beautiful place to camp and relax. Clean campsites and bathrooms. Nice hiking trails."
Quiet atmosphere: The more remote campgrounds offer peaceful settings. A Moon Lake Farm visitor wrote, "This is a very peaceful stop with 30 amp power and water available. Well kept and very nice host. The land and lake are beautiful."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly between campgrounds. At Campground at Barnes Crossing, reception is generally good due to proximity to Tupelo, but at more remote parks, connectivity decreases. At Piney Grove, "Cell service was spotty with both Verizon and AT&T having two bars. We could text but not receive phone calls and often the internet wouldn't connect."
Road conditions: Some parks have deteriorating internal roads. At Trace State Park, a camper reported, "Good campground, great lake access. Cons: not much level space between camper pads, access roads need replacing, sketchy cell service."
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during peak seasons. At Whitten Park, "We came on a Wednesday and were pretty much by ourselves. Both Thursday and Friday campers started coming in around 11:30 AM filling up the CG."
Limited amenities: Many campgrounds have basic facilities. One camper at Piney Grove mentioned, "Bathrooms could be a little better and they do not provide soap to wash your hands. So be sure to take some."
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. Tombigbee State Park offers "a nice big field, playground and baseball diamond" according to visitor reports.
Swimming areas: Serenity RV Park includes facilities for children. A visitor noted, "A small playground is located adjacent to it. Most of the sites are pull-through, with a few back-in sites near the cabins."
Educational opportunities: Many campgrounds have nearby learning experiences. At Whitten Park, "The James L. Whitten Historical Center is interesting to go through. There are several fishing piers as well."
Safety considerations: Parks with water access require extra supervision. A Piney Grove visitor mentioned, "As a kayaker, I had to stay close to shore to be safe. The waves caused by the motor boats were annoying."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Choose carefully at tree-heavy campgrounds. At Piney Grove, "The loops here are a little tight and there are lots of trees so coming in late on a popular weekend could be challenging with trucks, cars, and boats parked about."
Satellite reception issues: Tree cover impacts TV service. One RVer explained, "We had to chuckle when several campers here tried and tried to get their satellite dishes to connect. Unless you are maybe near the main road or boat ramp area, doubtful you would get a signal as there are too many trees."
Hookup configurations: Some parks have unique utility setups. At Serenity RV Park, "There are two sewer connections on both cement and gravel sites, which is a nice convenience. Water and electric hookups are centrally located on the pad, though the electric connection sits low to the ground, requiring us to bend the surge protector to plug in."
Noise considerations: Highway and train sounds affect some of the best places to camp near Guntown. An RVer at Serenity noted, "There is highway and train noise, but not too bad."